Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-06-09
EUGENIE'S LOVER.


so you sent for me on business.
Clayton? Well, what do you want2
What rascality have you in view
nowT said Royal Delsvan. setting
down his empty wine glass and look
ing across the table With fash in his
black eyes that gave proof Of the fire.
quency with which that glass had been
drained.
Royal Delavan was wild proflgate,
only twenty four years, yet scared and
hardened by years of sin-a character
notorious for everything that was bad,
yet possessing, under this depravity,
the germ of good that might have
made him noble.
An older man was Noel Clayton
and worse one, but he passed for a
respectable member of society.
Noel Clayton poured out another
glass of wine and passed it to Royal
before he answered:
Nothing very difficult this time
Come round here and I'll whisper it;
walls have ears, you know
Royal drained his glass again, and
then stood listening while Clayton
whispered in his ear the evil deed he
was about to execute.
Noel Clayton, you can get up some
tough deviltry for a man of your
standingp laughed Royal, when he
had finished. We'll, who is the girl?'
Eugene VAIL, answered Clayton.
Good God! Noal Clayton, she was
my playmate and companion for years.
We were children togetherp
Yes, nodded Clayton, that's why l
think you are the oest one for the job;
she wouldn't be likely to suspec: you.
Just offer to escort her to the picnic
at Cranky and she won't refuse you.
Then it would be easy to get her on
the wrong train, and leave her at
some out. the way station and I'd
meet herl She refused to by my wife
and she'll see the day she'll be glad to
marry mel
Noel Clayton, do you think l will
do that thing?' demanded the man. in
stern accents. ....
of course do, my boy. happen
to have bit of paper that will send
you to prison for long term, and |
rather think you'll prefer obhging
friend and earning a hundred dollars
to going there
The angry fash died out of Royals
eyes, and look of despair came into
Els face. He muttered bitter curse
upon his temper, as he sunk to his
seat, hiding his face with trembling
hands.
Don't you think you'll do that
thing?' said Clayton mockingly.
4 must, suppose muttered the
man, desperately, 'and pray Heaven
may murder you for it, some time
when you get me drunk.
'I'!l risk it, laughed Clayton You
are too much coward for that, and
he lit cigar and strolled carelessly
away.
An hour later Royal Delavan walk
cd up the shaded way that led through
the garden to Mr. Wallis door. Bad
as he was, that door was never closed
against him. He was ever walcomed,
and he knew that he had no friend so
true as those whom he had consented
to so deeply wrong. :,
Miss Vail was alone, her father and
her sister, who kept house for him,
being away, She was d gentle, lovely
girl, whose one-and-twenty years
would not have been guessed from her
girlish face and form. A dark flush
of shame rose to Royals brow as he
stammered q reply to her cordial
greeting and gentle reproof of his in
frequent presence there.
More than once he half resolved to
refuse Clayton's proposition; but the
thought of long years of imprison-
ment was too terrible to one so impa-
tient of even slight restraint, and he
would not encourage the suggestion.
Taking advantage of remark from
Eugene with regard to the picnic, he
stammered request that she would
attend it under his escort
Eugene looked at him in calm sur
prise, and her cheek flushed slightly,
as she answered in decided tones:
Certainly not! l am surprised that
you should ask it.
sWhy?' he demanded, hotly. But
even while he spoke his face grew red
with shame.
You knew better than to ask, Royal
Delavan. Do you think you are a
proper escort for a young lady2 You
might have been credit to yourself,
and yet what are YOU?
"A mean curser he retorted reck-
lessly. :,
He was proud and passionate and
she had been prepared for almost an
angry reply; but she was not prepared
for that desperate explanation.
You took your choice, she said at
i length; sbut it is not too late to retract
40